Cats sneeze from time to time. It’s a natural reflex that helps to clear irritants from the nasal passages. An occasional sneeze is nothing to worry about and might just be due to something tickling or irritating your cat’s nose.
Sometimes, a cat sneezing can signal a much deeper problem. But before that, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about sneezing, from the simplest meanings to the more complex issues.
Should I Be Concerned if My Cat Is Sneezing?
In most cases, you shouldn’t be too worried if your cat sneezes. Sneezing is a natural way for the body to remove irritants from the nose and clear the nasal passages, which benefits your cat.
Why Do Cats Sneeze?
Cats sneeze for many of the same reasons we humans do. These include:
Allergies
Allergens around a cat’s environment, such as pollen, dust, and mold, can irritate a cat’s airways, causing them to sneeze. Aside from these environmental allergens, household chemicals and air fresheners can also lead to a similar outcome.
Infections
Infections, typically of the respiratory kind, are a common cause of sneezing in cats. These infections are often caused by viruses and bacteria, notably feline calicivirus and herpesvirus.
Respiratory infections are generally common in areas where cats are close together, such as boarding facilities and multi-cat households. This is mainly because of how the pathogens spread, which is often through airborne droplets.
Aside from these viruses, another main cause of upper respiratory infections is bacteria. Bacterial infections are especially common after the immune system has been weakened.
While not as common as the previous two pathogens, fungi can also cause cat sneezing. Fungi generally spread through fungal spores, which are obtained from soil, decaying wood, and moist environments.
Foreign Objects
Sneezing can also come as a result of a foreign object getting lodged in your cat’s nasal passages. Cats, who are known to be curious, can accidentally inhale small particles such as grass blades and fragments.
Nasal Tumors
Growths within the nasal tissue can also cause irritation, leading to sneezing. While most growths are benign, they can obstruct airflow and lead to significant discomfort in cats.
Dental Disease
Surprisingly, dental disease is another cause of cat sneezing. Infections within the teeth and gums can impact the nasal passages as the infection spreads. Conditions such as abscesses and gingivitis in cats are notable causes.
What Symptoms Can Accompany Cat Sneezing?
If your cat has a specific issue that causes sneezing, chances are there will be other symptoms that go along with it. These can include:
Nasal Discharge. Mucus from the nose can indicate an infection based on its color.
Coughing or Wheezing. These are common symptoms of a respiratory issue.
Loss of Appetite. Cats with congested nostrils may not want to eat food because they can’t properly smell their food.
Lethargy or Fatigue. A sick cat may want to sleep more often or have no energy for physical activity.
Fever. Elevated body temperature can often indicate an infection as part of the immune system’s response.
Labored Breathing. Difficulty breathing or unusual sounds can be signs of nasal congestion or something more serious affecting the lungs.
How Vets Diagnose the Cause of Your Cat’s Sneezing
Persistent sneezing often indicates a problem that requires us to diagnose the exact cause for treatment. Here are the methods we use:
We start with a checkup of your cat’s nose, throat, and eyes to identify anything out of the ordinary. Chronic sneezing typically indicates a respiratory problem, which means we’ll also check your cat’s breathing and heart rate.
To rule out or identify any infections, we’ll do a biopsy on the outlying tissue. This can reveal any potential microbes that might have caused your cat’s sneezing.
Blood tests can also be used to identify infections, allergies, and other health issues that might be contributing to the symptoms.
If we suspect a foreign object or a nasal tumor, then we can utilize diagnostic imaging to get a closer, much deeper view. We may also use a rhinoscope. This tool is a small camera inserted into the nasal passages.
Rhinoscopy provides a visual inspection of polyps, tumors, or deep-seated infections that may not be visible on X-rays.
What to Do if Your Cat Keeps Sneezing
If your cat experiences persistent sneezing, here are a few tips on treatment:
Medications
If allergies are the cause, antihistamines and steroids can help relieve your cat’s airways and stop the sneezing. Antihistamines can help reduce your cat’s allergic reactions by blocking histamine receptors, allowing the sneezing to subside.
For bacterial infections, we will make use of antibiotics. These medications get to the root of the issue, effectively eliminating the pathogen. Viral causes tend to be trickier to treat, since the most efficient solution is prevention through vaccination.
Dental Treatment
If your cat’s sneezing is caused by dental diseases, addressing the dental issue itself is essential for recovery. The primary option may vary, but can involve dental cleaning, scaling, tooth extractions, and antibiotics.
Surgery
For tumors, we may need to perform surgery and more invasive maneuvers. By surgically removing the tumors, we can restore natural airflow to your cat’s airways. For foreign objects, we typically do an endoscopy.
Supportive Care
Throughout the treatment process, we will provide supportive care. These can be anywhere from administering IV fluids to helping you choose the right cat products for your best friend.
Vet Tips: Can I Prevent My Cat From Sneezing?
Luckily, there are some easy ways you can do at home to help prevent your cat from sneezing.
Keep Your Home Clean
One of the simplest ways to reduce sneezing in cats is by keeping their environment free of dust, mold, and other airborne irritants. Regularly vacuuming carpets, rugs, and furniture can help you achieve this.
Using an air purifier also works by improving air quality and significantly reducing airborne allergens.
Have Your Cat Vaccinated
The viruses that cause sneezing in cats can be easily prevented with routine vaccinations. Through these preventive measures, the risk of infection drastically reduces, which also reduces your cat’s risk of sneezing.
Groom Your Cat
Allergens can easily get stuck in your cat’s coat, especially if it’s a long-haired breed. By grooming your cat regularly, you’re not only preventing sneezing but also a multitude of other health issues.
"A sneeze might seem small, but in cats, it can possibly be the first whisper of something bigger."
- Dr. Rokas Proscevicius
Final Thoughts
While sneezing is normal for cats, it may turn into a concern if it goes on for long periods of time. Coupled with other symptoms, it becomes a more serious issue. Through simple preventive measures, you can save your best friend a whole lot of trouble.
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